Finding a mentor does not have to be as formal and traditional as it sounds. Mentors can be anyone—from college professors or successful people in your field to meet-up groups or a panel of speakers you meet at a conference.
I'm a huge advocate of finding mentors throughout your career and keeping those relationships alive as your career path evolves. I had the pleasure of finding several mentors both in college and through my first job post-graduation and I continue to seek out mentors—those who have been there and done that—as I move through my current line of work.
The question remains: How do you find that person (or group of people) who can become a sounding board for your thoughts, worries, ideas or goals?
This is an important step in finding a mentor. Who is making waves in your industry? Are they on Twitter? Follow them! See what well-known leaders are doing in your industry and take notes. What makes their career trajectory appealing to you?
This exercise isn't necessarily about landing a mentorship with the movers and shakers, but it will help you understand what it is you're hoping to gain from a mentorship.
Once you've taken a look at those you admire in your industry, it's time to sit down and write out what you're looking to learn from a mentor. Think about everything—from gaining valuable advice and learning the ropes to understanding the day-to-day grind of your industry and making contacts. Once you've defined your needs, you'll also what to think about the potential needs of your mentor. What can you offer the other person in this scenario? It's always important to give as much as you get in any professional relationship.
What is a teacher?
While attending industry events can be both time-consuming and expensive, I cannot recommend it enough. Meeting people who move in the circles you hope to join is a great way to find mentors in your industry. Not only that, you'll have an opportunity to learn about upcoming changes and trends in your industry simply by attending! This knowledge will come in handy when you sit down for your first round of interviews. Trust me!
Don't forget where you've come from! Professors and advisors are humans too. They've been around the block and have potentially held other positions outside of campus boundaries.
In the same vein, don't discount those who you meet in your post-graduate work. If you're continuing your education in any way—whether through online courses or a short-term program—you'll want to think about how you can build relationships with potential mentors along the way.
For example, Bethany is hoping to find mentors through her summer program at NYU and it sounds like she's got the right idea! Listen in for more:
Bethany on finding mentors.
-------
-------
Again, this doesn't have do be formal! Send an email, tweet or message to see if people have time to meet for coffee or lunch (and be prepared to treat!).
Once you've set aside some time, it's crucial to be very straightforward and honest about what you're looking for from this individual. Mentorship can be a lot of work and while most will be flattered to be thought of as mentor material, you'll want to be respectful of scheduling and time constraints. Not everyone will have time to invest in you—and that's okay. The relationship has to work for everyone involved.
In addition to time, you'll want to make sure the person (or people) you're working with have the industry experience you're looking to tap into. Questions about past work experience, challenges and successes are completely expected, so ask away!
This one is important and I'll admit, I've let great mentor relationships fizzle out over the years due to changes in my career trajectory, bad timing or full schedules. However, there are a few key ways to keep worthwhile mentorships alive and well:
Be responsive and responsible. Being accountable and available is crucial to any mentorship (or any of life's relationships, really). Make sure you follow through on any advice or tips and respond to outreach in a timely manner.
Check in often. No need to check in too much (once a month seems to suffice), but staying on your mentor's radar and reaching out to keep you on their's is important.
Reciprocate. Mentorship is a two-sided adventure. Take your mentor out to lunch and ask them how their job/business is going. Send them articles that might interest them and create opportunities for growth in their career—much like they will do for you!
-------
Equally important to finding a mentor or two? Managing your online presence.
Let's get to it...